![Circus Oz strong-woman Spenser Inwood, at base, has been a circus performer since she was 8 years old. “Apart from the fact that I’m actually quite little, my strength comes from having trained for a long time as a child,” she says. “The first time I ever had someone stand on my shoulders who was bigger than me, I was [very young], so my technique is good. It had to be because I’m little.”](https://wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/photos/2017/02/10/126808129_CircusOz2016_ThreeHigh_Spenser_-551-DH_ORIG_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d)
Picture a circus acrobat. The acrobat is supporting a partner in an adagio (pair balancing) act. The acrobat is at the base of a three-person tower, or catching fliers on the trapeze. Got an image? What does the performer look like? Any chance she's a 5-foot-2-inch, feminine woman?
"Women are told we're not as strong or as capable as we actually are," says strong-woman Spenser Inwood. Inwood is a performer with Circus Oz -- a modern circus troupe from Australia that infuses its shows with theatricality and music while challenging societal norms. "This is happening quite a lot in Australia -- the 'gender roles' are very much starting to be appropriated to anyone [instead of only] men catching [only] light, ethereal women fliers.
FAQ
Circus Oz: Straight Up
WHEN — 7 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m. & 7 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Feb. 17; 2 & 8 p.m. Feb. 18; 2 p.m. Feb. 19
WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
COST — $25-$65
INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
"There are really underlying ideas around gender and gender dysmorphia," she goes on. "Of wanting to be in a different skin, male or female. We're constantly [thinking about] how can we start this conversation within the audience."
This rejection of what is traditionally considered an "appropriate" behavior or role for people of different genders, orientations, races or physical builds may seem particularly timely, but the philosophies behind Circus Oz have been inspiring audience members since its inception in 1978.
"Women come up to me all the time and say, 'Oh, I could never do that,'" Inwood says. "But I find whenever you're wanting to throw your energy [completely] into something, you'll find a way to make it work for yourself."
Celebrating its 40th anniversary next year, Circus Oz was the first contemporary circus -- one without animals -- in Australia and in fact predates Canadian-founded Cirque Du Soleil by several years. Rather than entertaining with animals, the troupe revolves around stunning acrobatic skill, satirical comedy and music.
There's an "amazing cohesion between the music and circus [because] our acrobats are musicians and vice versa. It creates this really kind of rocking gel [since] the whole band isn't separate," says Inwood. In addition to her acrobatic work, Inwood has learned to play bits of percussion, piano, the tenor horn and the melodica since joining Circus Oz.
Inwood says this diversity of talent combined with the distinctness of the performers alludes to "circus" as a growing art form. Acknowledging that people will layer their own interpretations and meanings onto art, Circus Oz aims to stimulate that conversation. What Inwood calls "Australian lyricism" pairs with inspiration, metaphor and political incorrectness to weave together a unique evening of live theater. But even if some of the political insinuations or art-imitating-life symbolism floats over your head, the overall message of Circus Oz is quite clear: "Nothing is impossible, and everyone is extraordinary."
"Portraying different body types and different skills [adds] another level of equality," Inwood says. "We want to make sure the audience looks at [the stage] and recognizes someone like themselves -- [to be] able to sit in the audience [and realize] we're just regular people, but we have the ability to do amazing feats."
NAN What's Up on 02/10/2017